Section 350.1 – Fair sponsor; definition.  For purposes of this Part a fair sponsor shall mean any organization that receives money from the State for the promotion of agriculture and domestic arts pursuant to Article 24 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.

Section 350.2 – No fee for 4-H, FFA, junior fair or school department exhibits.  No entry fee shall be charged for 4-H Club, FFA and junior fair exhibits entered for competition in their own classes, or for entries in the school department.

Section 350.3 – Prompt, full payment of premiums.  All premiums advertised and awarded must be paid promptly and in full, without deduction in the guise of donations or otherwise, not withstanding any statement to the contrary or in modification thereof announced or stated in the premium book.

Section 350.4 – No premium for unworthy exhibit.  No premium should be awarded by any judge or paid by any fair sponsor for an unworthy exhibit.

Section 350.5 – Premium amount to attract well-balanced exhibits.  The amount of premium offered in the various departments should be such as to secure well-balanced exhibits, in the light of the types of agriculture carried on in the territory served by the fair.

Section 350.6 – No exhibits by judges in departments they oversee.  No judges shall be permitted to enter exhibits in competition for premiums in the department with which they are connected.

Section 350.7 – Exhibits to be plainly labeled.  Exhibits must be plainly labeled so that the full significance of the exhibits will be made clear.

Section 350.8 – Re-exhibition in domestic department.  No article shall be permitted to be exhibited in the domestic department if it has been previously exhibited therein unless permitted by official action of the board of directors of the fair sponsor, an exception is made to this requirement.

Section 350.9 – Ownership of exhibits entered in fairs and shows.

(a) All exhibits shall be entered in the name of the exhibit owner, provided, however, that any animal exhibit entered in a youth fair, youth exhibition or 4-H show or exhibition may be entered in the name of the exhibitor.

(b) Exhibits shall have been owned by the exhibitor for a period of at least 30 days prior to entry of the exhibit, provided, however, that any animal exhibit entered in a youth fair, youth exhibition or 4-H show or exhibition shall have been in the care of the exhibitor for a period of at least 60 days prior to entry of the exhibit.

(c) Proof of ownership of any exhibit shall be provided by the exhibitor, upon request, to the fair sponsor.

(d) The fair sponsor may limit the number of breeds shown by any exhibitor.

Section 350.10 – Rejection or refusal of an exhibit.  Any fair sponsor shall reserve the right to reject or refuse and to order the removal of any exhibit which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, is not eligible or worthy of showing or has not met the livestock health requirements set forth in  Par 351 of this Chapter.

Section 350.11 – Compliance with an enforcement of livestock health requirements.  Each fair sponsor which receives money from the State pursuant to article 24 of the Agriculture and Markets Law shall comply with and enforce the livestock health requirements set forth in Part 351 of the Chapter.

ALBANY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The Albany County Health Department recommends rabies vaccination two months prior to the fair.

A fourteen-day rabies vaccination requirement is the minimum time frame that will help to ensure protection of animals against rabies while on the fairgrounds.  It is preferable to establish rabies immunity well in advance of the fair season.  Keep in mind that a non-immunized animal (or an animal whose protective vaccination status has expired), exposed to rabies virus prior to receiving its vaccination is not likely to be protected.  Exhibitors should consult with their veterinarian about vaccinating their animal(s) against rabies as soon as possible.  As animals receive their booster vaccination, we will be developing a population that is protected against rabies to the broadest degree possible.

A photocopy of rabies vaccination records, to be kept by the fair, must be provided to each superintendent, or entry to the fairgrounds will be denied.

The Albany County Health Department has requested that all fairs:
1. Post a description of the rabies vaccination requirements for both on and off label vaccines: “Vaccination in 2 months prior to the fair is recommended for all animals, but is required at least 14 days prior to the arrival at the fairgrounds.”

2. Include precautions to be taken with animals vaccinated with off-label vaccine or those juveniles that are too young (less than 3 months old) or that recently became of age for vaccination.  “We advise that in general we do not recommend that you allow fair visitors to feed or handle the mouths of your animals.  It is particularly important that members of the public do not have contact with animals if they are too young for rabies vaccination, were vaccinated for less than a two-week period or vaccinated with an off-label vaccine.

3. Include reminder to owners to watch/observe the health of animals for approximately 110 days after they are brought home from the fair and report any sudden death or neurological signs to a veterinarian.

4. Respond to and report all animal bites to the on-site medical service.

5. House animals that due to their ages can’t be vaccinated at least 14 days prior to the fair, where visitors can’t pet or handle them

6. Post signs at the fair which discourage unsupervised handling of animals by visitors (i.e. “For health and safety reasons, please do not pet or handle animals without the owner’s permission.”)